For those interested in giving back this holiday season, visit HandsOn Jacksonville’s website here for a list of volunteer opportunities throughout Jacksonville.

Simply search by zip code to identify opportunities near you.

To learn more about HandsOn Jacksonville and its mission, click here.

Celebrate the holiday season admiring the sparkling lights at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Fourth Annual ZOOLights event, now through Jan. 2, 2016.

Thousands of LED lights will transform the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens into a winter wonderland filled with moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees and animal silhouettes.

Guests can view sculptures and performances by local artists including students at UNF and JU, a fairy village in the Range of the Jaguar and yarn bombing by Yarn Bomb Jax.

In addition to walking among the thousands of lights strung throughout the Zoo and listening to spirited holiday music, guests can enjoy a unique view of ZOOLights by boarding the Zoo’s lighted train.

Guests can also enjoy carousel rides, the 4-D Theater Ride featuring the Polar Express, marshmallow roasting, warm weather “ice” skating and more!

Hours for ZOOLights are Monday through Thursday 6 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 6 to 10 p.m.

Pricing for ZOOLights are $10 for non-members and $8 for members.  Each can save $1 when ordering tickets online here.

Coinciding with the TaxSlayer Bowl weekend, the 2016 VyStar 5k Run will be held Jan. 1 at 12:30 p.m.  All proceeds from the event will benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital and the cost to participate is $30.

The 5k will take participants through the streets of downtown Jacksonville and end on the Northbank Riverwalk.  Professionally timed and organized, First Place Sports is hosting in partnership with the TaxSlayer Bowl and Jacksonville Sports Council.

For more information or to register, click here.

Now underway, residents and visitors to Florida’s Historic Coast can enjoy St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights each evening through Jan. 31, 2016.

About St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights (from FloridasHistoricCoast.com):

St. Augustine’s popular holiday season city-wide event – the famed Nights of Lights celebration – will glow with more than three million brilliant white lights again this year attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the oldest city in the Nation.

Many historic landmarks and locations are beautifully illuminated during Nights of Lights. The waters of Matanzas bay glow from the nightly reflections of lights strewn along the bay walk and displayed on the Bridge of Lions. The Plaza de la Constitucion shines from the top of trees and throughout the famous center of St. Augustine’s historic district. The 125-year-old Hotel Ponce de Leon, now the campus of Flagler College, is outlined in lights. And the Lightner Museum, once a resort hotel also built by Flagler, is lit so brilliantly it is a favorite among visitors.

Nights of Lights is inspired by the tradition of marking the holiday season with a single white candle burning in a window at each home during the nearly 250 years when St. Augustine served as the capital of Spanish La Florida. Today, Nights of Lights continues that tradition in a grand style reflecting the city’s 450 years of history.

Nights of Lights continues to garner accolades. In 2014, Rachel Ray magazine named St. Augustine one of the Nation’s “Twinkliest Towns.”  National Geographic declared St. Augustine one of the Top 10 Places in the World to view holiday lights in 2012 and 2013. The American Bus Association named Nights of Lights a Top 100 Event in North America.

It is often the work of angels that warms hearts and makes the holidays sweeter, bringing smiles, joy, hope and happiness to others. In Northeast Florida, those angels include the real estate professionals at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.

The company is well known for its charitable efforts and philanthropic giving throughout the year, including its partnership with Dreams Come True and the Jacksonville Jaguars and the company’s annual Backpack Challenge, which collects hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies prior to the start of the school year. The Northeast Florida real estate firm’s giving spirit is also strong during the holiday season.

“With the hustle-and-bustle of the busy holiday season, it is important to reflect on the many blessings we have in our lives,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Founder, President and CEO Linda Sherrer. “We have so much to be thankful for, and we are happy to support organizations that bring smiles and joy to those who would otherwise receive very little or nothing during the holiday season.”

The spirit of giving is evident company-wide as each branch office selects non-profits or causes to devote time, talent or financial sponsorship. The following are some of the contributions and initiatives this holiday season:

Avondale/Ortega/San Marco/San Jose Offices – The associates at the Avondale/San Marco offices collect food and supplies during the holidays and throughout the year for local food banks. The office is sponsoring children for the holidays through Holiday Magic, an organization that supports children directly affected by or are infected with HIV/AIDs. Team members volunteer at numerous community holiday celebration events including Christmas in Avondale and Holiday Magic in San Marco.

Atlantic Beach/Intracoastal West/Southside Office – The company’s support of Dreams Come True extends beyond its Special Times partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Realtor Robbin Wilson spearheaded volunteers at numerous events, including the Color in Motion 5K and Make a Difference Day.
Corporate Office – The Corporate office is collecting toys and bicycles on behalf of Operation New Hope, a nationally recognized Jacksonville non-profit with a mission of rebuilding lives, restoring communities and renewing hope.

Fleming Island/Orange Park Office – Each year agents adopt a family during the holidays. With the help of a counselor at S. Bryan Jennings Elementary School, the agents are providing gifts for a brother and sister ages 7 and 5. The children live with their grandparents and only asked for a few items each, including pajamas.

“What a sweet family,” said Linda Benson, Broker/Manager of the Fleming Island office. “We are so happy to deliver their Christmas wish list and a grocery gift card for their holiday meals.”

Mandarin/St. Johns Office – Associates in the Mandarin office assist the Mandarin Food Bank, collecting food and donations for its annual Christmas food giveaway. The Mandarin Food Bank provides emergency food and clothing to those in need.

Ponte Vedra/Nocatee Office – The agents at Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office are hosting a Christmas party fundraiser to benefit K9s for Warriors, a non-profit located in Ponte Vedra that provides and trains service dogs for military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other disabilities as a result of injuries incurred on duty.

St. Augustine Office – Giving is a tradition among associates in the St. Augustine office. As in past years, agents collected for Toys for Tots and the St. Francis House, which provides food and emergency shelter. The office raised money for Wreaths Across America and many associates attended the commemorative wreath-laying ceremony honoring fallen veterans at the St. Augustine National Cemetery on Dec. 12.

It is these activities and others like them throughout the year that reflect the true collective heart of the team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.

“One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves during the holiday season is making a positive difference in the lives of many local children and families,” said Broker/Executive Vice President Christy Budnick. “The holiday season serves as an important reminder of just how blessed we are, and our support of charitable initiatives reflects the true meaning of the season. We truly appreciate the support of our customers in these endeavors. It is amazing how a little effort makes such a large impact in others’ lives.”

The Condo Group has announced the promotion of Jessica McNamee to property manager at The Palazzo on St. Johns, a waterfront condominium community in Jacksonville.

McNamee began her tenure at The Palazzo on St. Johns in 2013 as a closing coordinator with its sales and marketing team and was recently promoted to property manager. As property manager, McNamee’s responsibilities include collaborating with The Palazzo’s sales team, construction team, homeowners and its homeowners association, as well as the property’s developer, Forge Capital Partners.

“The Palazzo on St. Johns is a great community that offers the convenience of being near restaurants and shops with the feeling of a secluded resort,” said McNamee.  “It has been great getting to know the homeowners at Palazzo and watching the community come to life.”

Located near the Jacksonville neighborhoods of San Jose and Mandarin, The Palazzo on St. Johns is centrally located to all that the area has to offer. Priced from the low $400,000s, homeowners at The Palazzo enjoy sweeping views of the waterway from their three- or four-bedroom luxury condominium home.  Each residence features superb amenities including a private elevator landing, hardwood floors, nine-foot ceilings, gas fireplace, luxury finishes and more, all while being within minutes to fantastic restaurants and shops.

Buildings one and two are complete with move-in residences available and selling quickly.  Once complete, The Palazzo on St. Johns will be comprised of 72 waterfront residences among four buildings, each featuring sweeping views of the waterway and wildlife preserve.

For more information about The Palazzo on St. Johns, visit www.PalazzoOnStJohns.com or call (904) 627-4762.  The Palazzo on St. Johns is located at 3958 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, Fla. and its Sales Center is open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

 Georgia and Joe Carroll

After living in Ponte Vedra Beach for nearly 20 years and then moving to a luxurious waterfront condominium, Joe and Georgia Carroll discovered they wanted something different. While the condominium lifestyle is fantastic, they wanted to return to Ponte Vedra Beach and live in a single-family home in a highly regarded, established community.

The Carrolls started looking for a new home and they quickly discovered the challenges of finding a new construction home in Ponte Vedra Beach. They were not interested in taking on the time and expenses associated with updating and renovating an older home to meet today’s standards.

“Then we found elacora at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach,” Joe Carroll said. “Our experience has been wonderful. The company lives up to its excellent reputation, offering quality homes designed with the latest technology and the most up-to-date building techniques available.”

The Carrolls purchased elacora’s Muirfield showhome in The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach. They say their experience working with the company has been unbelievably favorable.

“This is a company that doesn’t cut any corners and does an excellent job,” Carroll said. “Everyone we have met has been excellent to work with and they don’t disappear after they’ve made the sale. That was important to me.”

Like all elacora homes, the Carrolls’ home is expertly designed with open and flexible spaces for living and entertaining. Homes by elacora feature spacious gourmet kitchens with furniture-quality cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, luxurious designer bathrooms, spectacular outdoor living areas and three-car garages.

All of elacora’s plans at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach have been designed specifically for the community. They include numerous luxurious features as standards and offer abundant personalization options for adding bonus space for additional bedrooms, an office or a game or media room.

In addition to their home by elacora, the Carrolls were drawn to the gated community’s lush manicured surroundings, architectural integrity and amenity-rich lifestyle.

“I’m not a golfer, but The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach offers much more than just golf,” Carroll said.

Residents at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach enjoy an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, a private beach club, tennis facility, fitness center and a clubhouse with dining and social activities for all ages. elacora’s homes at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach are being built adjacent to a new community park, featuring an open air pavilion, a large fenced-in playground, full-sized croquet court and open space for sports and activities.

With only two dozen elacora home sites available, interested home buyers are encouraged to visit The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach soon and see the company’s available homes, including the Arcadia showhome furnished and decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group. In addition to the Arcadia showhome, elacora has several move-in ready homes available for purchase.
Homes by elacora at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach are priced starting at $549,900. For more information, call (904) 484-9023 or visit www.elacora.com.

Through Wednesday, Dec. 23, the Jacksonville Business Journal is accepting nominations for Northeast Florida’s Best Places to Work.

For eligibility requirements and more information, visit the Jacksonville Business Journal online here.

The 2015 Holiday on the River Concert and Dance Series is underway and will continue through Monday, Dec. 21 at The Jacksonville Landing.

Enjoy the holiday season as local schools, churches and dance groups perform in front of the 56-foot tall Christmas Tree in the Courtyard.

Upcoming performances are as follows:

Saturday, December 12
4 p.m. Worship Arts Ministry
5 p.m. Premier Athletics
5:30 p.m. Polly B Show Team
6:15 p.m. Showtime USA
7:15 p.m. Callahan Dance
8:15 p.m. Atlantic Coast Dance

Wednesday, December 16
11 a.m. Lake Asbury Elementary Chorus
11 a.m. Palm Avenue Performing Artists
12:30 p.m. John Love Elementary Chorus
6:15 p.m. Cathedral Arts Project Chorus
7:15 p.m. Fletcher Dance Ensemble

Thursday, December 17
11 a.m. Lee High School
12:30 p.m. Choir, Dance, Drama, Band Ensemble
5:15 p.m. First Coast Kids
6:15 p.m. Sophisticated Gents
7:15 p.m. Gospel Community Concert Choir
8:15 p.m. David Medvidovsky
**Schedule is subject to change without notice on the Jacksonville Landing website

For more information and a complete schedule of performances, click here.

To register your group to perform, please email [email protected].

The Monique Burr Foundation for Children received coverage in a Florida Times Union editorial titled, “Local nonprofit is making impressive strides to preventing child abuse,” published Nov. 17, 2015.

Visit this link to read the editorial.  Some highlights from the editorial include:

The Monique Burr Foundation for Children was founded in 1997 by Edward Burr to continue the work of his late wife, Monique Burr, a devoted child advocate. The foundation is dedicated to protecting children from child abuse and bullying by providing the best prevention education programs.

In the Duval County public schools alone, this prevention education is being provided to every pupil in kindergarten to sixth grade as well as kids in all but 12 of Florida’s 67 counties.

This impressive work is ably carried out in inspiring fashion by the Monique Burr Foundation, a local nonprofit whose Child Safety Matters program is winning national acclaim for its revolutionary approach to educating children to avoid being victimized by abuse — and, equally important, empowering those who have been abused to report it and prevent it from ever happening again

For more information about the Monique Burr Foundation for Children and its program, MBF Child Safety Matters, visit here.